Week 5. 40 for the Neighborhood

Sign-up for our 40 Hours of Prayer on weekend of April 13-14. You can also show up at any time between 7 am (4/13) and 11 pm (4/14).

40 for the Neighborhood             Day 29         April 8  

 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor? James 4:12

Who are we likely to be critical of in our neighborhood?

Prayer Reflection:  Lord, who do you want us to be in our neighborhood?

How could this land best be a part of who we are to be in the neighborhood?

Know Your Neighborhood:   Dexter Yard, scheduled to open in 2020 will include “The Field House” an indoor space for the community to hold events, concerts, indoor soccer games and art exhibits. “ Our goal is to create..., such that it engages and encourages people to hang out 18 hours a day.”

40 for the Neighborhood             Day 30       April 9

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. .  Phil. 4:6

Pray about what causes you to be anxious in general and related to the neighborhood.

Prayer Reflection:  Lord, who do you want us to be in our neighborhood?

How could this land best be a part of who we are to be in the neighborhood?

Know Your Neighborhood:  The Fairview bridge, built over 65 years ago, will be closed beginning this summer for about 19 months to tear it down and construct a new bridge.

40 for the Neighborhood             Day 31         April 10

Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.      Jeremiah 29: 4-7

What is to seek the welfare of the neighborhood/city?

Prayer Reflection:  Lord, who do you want us to be in our neighborhood?

How could this land best be a part of who we are to be in the neighborhood?

Know Your Neighborhood:    There 148,000 registered rental housing units in Seattle and 14 apartment buildings in South Lake Union.

40 for the Neighborhood             Day 32         April 11

 Do not plot harm against your neighbor, who lives trustfully near you.   Proverbs. 3:29

What is a prayer of blessing you have for the neighborhood?

Prayer Reflection:  Lord, who do you want us to be in our neighborhood?

How could this land best be a part of who we are to be in the neighborhood?

Know Your Neighborhood:  If estimates are correct the remaining build out of SLU will yield about $200 million from developers which would build roughly 2,100 residential units over ten years.

40 for the Neighborhood             Day 33          April 12

25 ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink,* or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?* 28And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, 29yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. 30But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31Therefore do not worry, saying, “What will we eat?” or “What will we drink?” or “What will we wear?” 32For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33But strive first for the kingdom of God* and his* righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 5

 Rest in the assurance that God knows what you need.

Prayer Reflection:  Lord, who do you want us to be in our neighborhood?

How could this land best be a part of who we are to be in the neighborhood?

Know Your Neighborhood:  Flatstick Pub is our neighbor across Mercer on Westlake. Their 11,000 square-foot is a thriving space offering  9-hole putt-putt golf course, and food provided by Ethan Stowell Restaurants with seating for 250 indoors, and 50 on a patio.

  40 for the Neighborhood             Day 34         April 13   

  “Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. “So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.          Matthew 6:1-4

 How can you secretly love your neighborhood this week?

Prayer Reflection:  Lord, who do you want us to be in our neighborhood?

How could this land best be a part of who we are to be in the neighborhood?

Know Your Neighborhood:  The Wooden Boat Center on the South end of Lake Union has free 45 minute to an hour sailing trips every Sunday until 3:00pm through the year.

Week 4. 40 for the Neighborhood

(Also available on Union app)

40 for the Neighborhood             Day 23          April 1

Stay away from a fool, for you will not find knowledge on their lips.
The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception.
Fools mock at making amends for sin, but goodwill is found among the upright. Proverb 14:7-11

 Where do we need to make amends as a neighbor?

Prayer Reflection:  Lord, who do you want us to be in our neighborhood?

How could this land best be part of who we are to be in the neighborhood?

Know Your Neighborhood:  The Goodwill next door to 415 is the busiest Goodwill story in the whole organization.

 40 for the Neighborhood             Day 24         April 2

Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense, but the one who has understanding holds their tongue. Prov. 11:12

What is the back story of the neighbor you have a difficult time loving?

Prayer Reflection:  Lord, who do you want us to be in our neighborhood?

How could this land best be a part of who we are to be in the neighborhood?

Know Your Neighborhood:   Two light rail stations are planned, one at Denny and Westlake and the other about four blocks west of 415 on Republican Street.

40 for the Neighborhood             Day 25         April 3

Your new moons and your appointed festivals my soul hates; they have become a burden to me, I am weary of bearing them. When you stretch out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood.  Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow. Isaiah 1:14-17

Lord, strengthen me to cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow—especially in the neighborhood.

Prayer Reflection:  Lord, who do you want us to be in our neighborhood?

How could this land best be a part of who we are to be in the neighborhood?

Know Your Neighborhood:   Union serves the neighborhood working with over 20 partners ranging from Lowell Elementary to Urban Impact and Union Gospel Mission.

40 for the Neighborhood             Day 26         April 4

 ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
 ‘Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
 ‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
 ‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
 ‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.  Matthew 5

 What does it mean to be a neighbor poor in spirit, who mourns, is meek, hungers and thirsts for righteousness, is merciful and pure in heart?

Prayer Reflection:  Lord, who do you want us to be in our neighborhood?

How could this land best be a part of who we are to be in the neighborhood?

Know Your Neighborhood:  South Lake Union has the 11th highest crime rates of all the City’s neighborhood but also the highest decrease in crimes of all neighborhoods.

40 for the Neighborhood             Day 27       April 5

‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

What does it look like to seek God’s way over human ways in the neighborhood?

Prayer Reflection:  Lord, who do you want us to be in our neighborhood?

How could this land best be a part of who we are to be in the neighborhood?

Know Your Neighborhood:   Our non-profit neighbor, PATH, is a global team of innovators working to accelerate health equity so all people and communities can thrive.  PATH focuses on five platforms—vaccines, drugs, diagnostics, devices, and system and service innovations.

40 for the Neighborhood             Day 28         April 6

 ‘You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.

 How do we draw out the best flavor of the neighborhood? What are we to help preserve?

Prayer Reflection:  Lord, who do you want us to be in our neighborhood?

How could this land best be a part of who we are to be in the neighborhood?

Know Your Neighborhood:   Cornish College of the Arts, begun in 1914 in offers degrees in the performing and visual arts and music. The College’s wholistic  holistic approach to education seeks to help  aspiring artists become practicing artists   to contribute to society as artists, citizens, and innovators.

Week 3. 40 for the Neighborhood

(Also available on Union app)

40 for the Neighborhood                 Day     17       March 25

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8

Pray for God to grow our humility, mercy and love.

Prayer Reflection:  Lord, who do you want us to be in our neighborhood?

How could this land best be a part of who we are to be in the neighborhood?

Know Your Neighborhood: There are about 100 restaurants in South Lake Union.

40 for the Neighborhood                 Day 18            March 26

When you make a sale to your neighbor or buy from your neighbor, you shall not cheat one another. Lev.25:14

Pray that our neighbors would be supportive of our actions to love the neighborhood.

Prayer Reflection:  Lord, who do you want us to be in our neighborhood?

How could this land best be a part of who we are to be in the neighborhood?

 Know Your Neighborhood Seattle Times columnist John Hinterberger proposed redeveloping SLU into a central park to include mixed-income housing, retail, and commercial space on the park edges.   Paul Allen donated $20m to buy property for the Seattle Commons, which reverted to his ownership after the proposal was defeated by public votes in 1995 and 1996.

40 for the Neighborhood                 Day 19         March 27

 If people can’t see what God is doing,
   they stumble all over themselves;
But when they attend to what he reveals,
they are most blessed.    Prov. 29:18          

What do think God is already doing in your neighborhood and SLU? Spend time praying over these areas.

Prayer Reflection: Lord, who do you want us to be in our neighborhood?

How could this land best be a part of who we are to be in the neighborhood?

 Know Your Neighborhood: Garfield, Ballard and the Center School are SLU’s three “neighborhood” high schools.

40 for the Neighborhood                 Day 20            March 28

 It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor, but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy. Prov.  14:21

Pray for God to show you a need in your neighborhood that you may be a part of meeting.

Prayer Reflection:  Lord, who do you want us to be in our neighborhood?

How could this land best be a part of who we are to be in the neighborhood?

Know Your Neighborhood: Low-Income Housing Institute (LIHI) has 5 buildings in the Cascade Neighborhood,  Alley24 has 20% of its units set aside for those earning less than 60% of the median income.  18% of the residential units in SLU were empty as of January 1, 2019. The City predicts the need is for 20,000 more units.

40 for the Neighborhood                 Day 21            March 29

The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern. Prov. 29:7

Lord, how do the poor gain a voice? Pray that we create space to hear the stories, concerns and dreams of those who feel voiceless in SLU and our neighborhoods.

Prayer Reflection:  Lord, who do you want us to be in our neighborhood?

How could this land best be a part of who we are to be in the neighborhood?

 Know Your Neighborhood: In the 1960’s acres of housing were destroyed in SLU to make room for parking lots.

Forty for the Neighborhood            Day 22           March 30

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Phil. 4:4

Give thanks for the good that is happening  in the neighborhood.

Prayer Reflection:  Lord, who do you want us to be in our neighborhood?

How could this land best be a part of who we are to be in the neighborhood?

 Know Your Neighborhood: Over a million people have received blood stem cell transplants around the world thanks to the pioneering work at Fred Hutch

Week 2. 40 for the Neighborhood

40 for the Neighborhood             Day 11     March 18

Proverbs 21:15       When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.         .            

What is an injustice that grips your heart today? Talk to God about how you can be involved in“doing justice.”Pray for eyes to see justice that you can celebrate in the neighborhood.

Prayer Reflection:  Lord, who do you want us to be in our neighborhood?

How could this land best be a part of who we are to be in the neighborhood?

Know Your Neighborhood: Google will soon have nearly a million square feet of office space in SLU –about a block away from 415 Westlake

40 for the Neighborhood             Day 12    March 19

 Luke 10:29        But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”                          

Talk to God about how you can live into being the neighbor you are invited to be. Pray for a neighbor that comes to mind.

Prayer Reflection:  Lord, who do you want us to be in our neighborhood?

How could this land best be a part of who we are to be in the neighborhood?

Know Your Neighborhood: SLU has roughly the same residential population as West Seattle (27,000) but a higher density (9,000 people per square mile) compared to 6,000.

40 for the Neighborhood             Day 13     March 20

Deuteronomy 5:21   “You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. You shall not set your desire on your neighbor’s house or land, his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”           

Pray for our role in supporting  Christ’s agents in the tech industry.

Prayer Reflection:  Lord, who do you want us to be in our neighborhood?

How could this land best be a part of who we are to be in the neighborhood?

Know Your Neighborhood: Brothers and sisters from Amazon, Tableau, Google, Facebook and other tech companies are meeting again at 6:00 pm today to Pray for Tech. Feel free to join in

40 for the Neighborhood             Day 14     March 21

Jeremiah 29:4-7 4          Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.             

Pray that tonight’s Commons Dinner builds trust and relationships among those we have met through Kakao Cafe.

Prayer Reflection:  Lord, who do you want us to be in our neighborhood?

How could this land best be a part of who we are to be in the neighborhood?

Know Your Neighborhood: The Collective nearby at 400 Dexter  is a  diverse community of  “by-invitation-members who thrive on adventure, shared ideas and purpose…The space acts as both a basecamp and a launchpad to foster interaction and meet the dynamic needs of The Collective’s members and their endeavors.”

40 for the Neighborhood             Day 15     March 22

 Matthew 5:43-45       You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But
I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Pray for those who are your enemies or you have a difficult time loving in your neighborhood.

Prayer Reflection:  Lord, who do you want us to be in our neighborhood?

How could this land best be a part of who we are to be in the neighborhood?

Know Your Neighborhood: There are 1,546 households with children in SLU. Lowell Elementary is the closest public school.

40 for the Neighborhood             Day 16     March 23

Isaiah 1:17          Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.             

Pray for the hospitality workers and retail folks in SLU and your local neighborhood. Who do you know by name?

Prayer Reflection:  Lord, who do you want us to be in our neighborhood?

How could this land best be a part of who we are to be in the neighborhood?

Know Your Neighborhood: The non-citizen population of South Lake Union (16.9) is almost twice that of the rest of Seattle (8.9%)   

Week 1. 40 For the Neighborhood. March 11-16

Forty days of Lent: A time to receive the new life poured out for us through the cross and resurrection of Jesus. 
It’s a time of reflection that some people find aided by giving up something for forty days but this year we want to suggest something else: Praying for the neighborhood for 40 days. It may be counter-intuitive but we have a hunch that as we pray for the neighborhood, looking at it with the eyes of Jesus, we will draw closer to Christ just as we find life when we give ourselves away.
You may want to find a time to pause in your day to pray, journal, walk, listen. These can be done daily or in clusters. Each week we will post scripture, questions and facts. Thank you for journeying with us!

Day 5    40 for the Neighborhood         March 11

 “When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and for the foreigner residing among you. I am the Lord your God.” Leviticus 23:22

What does it mean, in a city setting, to not reap to the edges of the field or pick up every stock  of grain that falls?

Prayer Reflection:  Lord, who do you want us to be in our neighborhood?

How could this land best be a part of who we are to be in the neighborhood?

Know Your Neighborhood: The neighborhood had its industrial start with cabinet and furniture manufacturing followed by ship building, a steam plant where Zymogenetics is now and the location of Boeing’s first plant.

 Day 6   40 for the Neighborhood         March 12      

"This, then, is how you should pray: " 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. Matthew 6:10

 Where do you need to forgive a debtor this week?

Prayer Reflection:  Lord, who do you want us to be in our neighborhood?

How could this land best be a part of who we are to be in the neighborhood?

Know Your Neighborhood: SCCA, the first comprehensive cancer center in the NW, enrolls 1000 patients in a clinical trial each year.

Day 7   40 for the Neighborhood             March 13

Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. Matthew 19:13

How can Union express Christ’s love to Children in South Lake Union?

Prayer Reflection:  Lord, who do you want us to be in our neighborhood?

How could this land best be a part of who we are to be in the neighborhood?

Know Your Neighborhood: Russians, Swedes, Norwegians, and Greeks made up a large part of the neighborhood population centered around Cascade Elementary School that is now Cascade Park up by REI (the school was destroyed in a 1949 earthquake).

Day 8 40 for the Neighborhood                   March 14

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. Exodus 20:16

 What un-grounded criticisms do we have of our neighbors?

Prayer Reflection:  Lord, who do you want us to be in our neighborhood?

How could this land best be a part of who we are to be in the neighborhood?

 Know Your Neighborhood: Amazon’s 8 million plus square feet of office space is enough room to house over 70,000 employees

Day 9 40 for the Neighborhood                 March 15

And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Col. 4:3

 Spend time praying for new open doors for God’s Spirit to bring healing and hope.

Prayer Reflection:  Lord, who do you want us to be in our neighborhood?

How could this land best be a part of who we are to be in the neighborhood?

 Know Your Neighborhood:  The city largest sawmill was kitty corner from us on Mercer and Westlake.

Day 10 40 for the Neighborhood                  March 16

To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” Mark 12:33  

What trappings of religion turn off our neighbors?

Prayer Reflection:  Lord, who do you want us to be in our neighborhood?

How could this land best be a part of who we are to be in the neighborhood?

 Know Your Neighborhood: Denny Park is Seattle’s oldest park. Once a cemetery, in 1883, the land was converted into a park. The Friends of Denny Park has played a key role in restoring the park to an accessible park for the community.

Ash Wednesday Week. 40 for the Neighborhood. March 6-9

You may want to find a time to pause in your day to pray, journal, walk, listen. These can be done daily or in clusters. Each week we will post scripture, questions and facts. Thank you for journeying with us!

40 for the Neighborhood      Day 1         March 6

"Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon:  Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease.  But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.”

Looking at this text, what is it to seek the welfare of a neighborhood?

Prayer Reflection:  Lord, who do you want us to be in our neighborhood?

How could this land best be a part of who we are to be in the neighborhood?

Know Your Neighborhood: Duwamish or Salish people had a settlement in this area until about 1875 when a longhouse was destroyed in a windstorm by a toppled tree. Deer and elk were also neighbors.

40 for the Neighborhood      Day 2         March 7

“But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” Amos 5:24 24

What is preventing life from flourishing in the neighborhood?

Prayer Reflection:  Lord, who do You want us to be in our neighborhood?

How could this land best be a part of who we are to be in the neighborhood?

Know your South Lake Union: The area that is now 415 was between two south running streams where 8th Avenue and Boren are now.      

Lord, grant me eyes to see the neighborhood with your eyes of love and justice.          

40 for the Neighborhood             Day 3       March 8

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.”  Romans 8:26

Breathe and know the Spirit is praying in, through, with and for you.        

Prayer Reflection:  Lord, who do You want us to be in our neighborhood?

How could this land best be a part of who we are to be in the neighborhood?

Know your South Lake Union: SLU has three parks: Denny Park, Cascade Playground and Lake Union Park.

40 for the Neighborhood             Day  4      March 9

“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”John 13:34-35

How would you describe how Jesus loves you? How might you know someone in the Union community better?

Prayer Reflection:  Lord, who do You want us to be in our neighborhood?

How could this land best be a part of who we are to be in the neighborhood?

Know your South Lake Union: South Lake Union is becoming a hub for life science organizations including: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, the Allen Institute for Brain Science, the Allen Institute for Cell Science, Zymogenetics, Battelle, Seattle Biomedical Research Institute/Seattle Children's Hospital, PATH, Juno Therapeutics, Rosetta (now part of Merck & Co.), Bio-Rad, and University of Washington Medicine.

40 For the Neighborhood. An invitation to journey in prayer through Lent

Forty days of Lent: A time to receive the new life poured out for us through the cross and resurrection of Jesus. 

It’s a time of reflection that some people find aided by giving up something for forty days but this year we want to suggest something else: Praying for the neighborhood for 40 days. It may be counter-intuitive but we have a hunch that as we pray for the neighborhood, looking at it with the eyes of Jesus, we will draw closer to Christ just as we find life when we give ourselves away.

So today we are launching 40 for the Neighborhood by asking God two questions:

1. Who does God wants us to be in our neighborhood? (Both the neighborhood we dwell in and the one we live in together here in South Lake Union.)

2.  How could our land be best be a part of who we are to be in the neighborhood?

On the website and the Union mobile app (if you need to download search for Union Church Seattle at your device's app store) we will have daily scripture, facts about the neighborhood and prompts for prayer or you can refer to this letter and the one we will send each week.

Please mark your calendars for April 13 and 14 when we will have 40 hours of Prayer for the Neighborhood at 415 Westlake. Choose a time to pray with others or by yourself at different stations created to provide a variety of prayer expressions. You may also want to set a time with your Community Dinner Groups, small group or any other grouping you wish. For those who would like to take on praying late night or early morning but do not  want to drive at those hours we will have a sleep over at 415.

Then, after Easter, as an expression of living into the New Creation that Jesus’ resurrection kicked off, we will have a day to hear from one another what we felt we discerned during 40 for the Neighborhood.